be you.

Historic ENDA hearing Tuesday

Whether you’re a retail clerk, a mechanic, or a surgeon – if you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, you shouldn’t be forced to stay in the closet for fear of losing your job. Today, in 29 states LGBT people can be fired only because they’re lesbian, gay, or bisexual. And in 34 states, people can be fired just because they’re transgender – reasons completely unrelated to their work!

For two years, Congress has stalled all action on ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban discrimination just like this – discrimination based on an employee’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Thankfully, on Tuesday the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee is holding a hearing on ENDA — and for the first time ever a transgender person will be testifying! This historic event will shine a spotlight on the real harm caused by these forms of workplace discrimination. But we need the Senate to go further – ENDA needs to be voted out of committee and sent to the Senate floor!

It’s simply outrageous that the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community still does not have clear federal protections from workplace discrimination. Discrimination at work is well-documented, both for LGB people as well as transgender people.

ENDA would ensure that employees are treated based on the quality of their work and nothing else.